GCHQ Christmas Quiz 2024 is out

https://www.gchq.gov.uk/news/gchq-christmas-challenge-2024

I’ve made a start. Not too tricky yet.

No spoilers

Got 1, 2, 3 and 5 straight away. Need to the about the rest.

This is aimed at kid right?

Also NO SPOILERS!

“We are delighted to be launching the 2024 Christmas Challenge aimed at young people

FAO HtS

Always fun. Don’t think I’ve ever completed it!

1 & 2 easy enough. 6 no idea!  5 can only get the first half so far… brain is sleeping.

Think I need pen and paper for the rest, will try them this evening.

I can’t do this puzzle without revealing who I really am, the first rule of MI6 is….  Oh arse!

All done. Nothing very tricky, but still satisfying

Think I need pen and paper for the rest, will try them this evening.

Definitely. Got so far just in my head then had to grab an envelope

Done. Does that mean I can apply for a job now? Definitely need some extra paper for scribbling about on.

I can imaging the younger end of the intended age range (11-18) would need a lot of guidance through that.

Can’t get my head around No.6,  or the front cover of the card, but then again I’m not the target audience for this.

Put the cipher into a spreadsheet and the answer pretty much fell out. This pleased me more than it should have.

ignore me…

ignore me…

classic secret servicves, right there.  I bet you were attracted by one of our users being called “HtS” but now you’re staying for the lolbantz

classic secret servicves, right there.  I bet you were attracted by one of our users being called “HtS” but now you’re staying for the lolbantz

I was blending in with the rest of the population by not being able to spell!  I still don’t understand q6.

 I still don’t understand q6.

Ah, that’s what you want us to think…

I’m proper thick. I cannot complete the questions just by looking at them. I’m also too lazy to reach over to the table and pick up a pen and paper at the moment!

I will hopefully summon up the energy and brain power later 🙂

Just seen it’s a kids quiz. Thought I was proper clever for a minute then!

All done, although I’m not 100% convinced of the numbers on the front under the animals, I’ve got the answer but it didn’t come out in the right order so I think I’ve missed something about the sequencing and that’s bugging me.  It could also be my bad spelling….

 I’ve got the answer but it didn’t come out in the right order so I think I’ve missed something about the sequencing and that’s bugging me

Maybe you need a red nosed guide to show you the way

Doh!

Done

Stuck on 7 for ages, got the substitution but couldn’t see what the landmark was, got there in the end.

1-7 are pretty easy

got the animal/numbers/etc. bit for the final message

not sure if I missed anything else?

Stuck on #6. Just can’t see it! My thinking is there are 7 questions and seven animals. On the front page of the card: Do you think the 4 numbers below each animal refer to the position of a letter if you have the correct answer to each question? I think it does. My head hurts.

not sure if I missed anything else?

There is a little hidden(ish) bonus message

Ah I think I have that now. If not then I think I have another one, due to geekiness.

I think I’d make a good Jackson Lamb…

A few years back, I was chatting to a former classmate, and we were discussing various people and where they were, and it turns out that one of my classmates ended up as an ‘analyst’ at GCHQ… He was able to retire at 55…

If you play the game, you’ve already lost.

Stuck on #6. Just can’t see it!

The picture is a bit mixed up on the bottom half of the outer ring.  42 = 24, 23 = 32, etc.

Managed to finish it last night. Good fun. Used the ‘hint’ sheet for #6. The 7 animals / 4 numbers bit is easier once you realise geography is involved.

If you like that, then the next one you might want to look at is the King William’s College Christmas Quiz.

Average score out of 100 is usually 2. From past experience, if you can figure out the theme in each section, you have a slightly better chance.

Wow. So the theme in most sections is intentionally hidden?

On a quick read through, I’m quite pleased with myself managing to get 4 and a half (at least, I think so!)

7.6

10.2

15.10

18.6

And I thought I knew 9.3 but on reflection it says “town” and not “city” so it’s probably a different book I’m thinking of. How do you define “most famous” anyway?!

Some others ring a bell… not sure I’d remember without Google’s help though. Google is allowed? Can’t believe the average score is only 2 if that’s really true.

Some others ring a bell… not sure I’d remember without Google’s help though. Google is allowed? Can’t believe the average score is only 2 if that’s really true.

Sorry – that bit’s in the article. It’s the case if you are sitting it under exam conditions – and the pupils are all under 18 years old, for context. I seem to remember an interview with one of the people that sets the paper saying that he had a slightly more difficult job each year to find questions that couldn’t be answered by Googling. The question about Moravians had me until I could search for the name of the thing it referred to, as I couldn’t for the life of me remember it!

If you like that, then the next one you might want to look at is

id say that in terms of “puzzle” the two are about as far apart as it’s possible to get.

In the GCHQ, I don’t understand what the question is for 6. Is it a numeric or wordy answer?

Edit: Oh, looking at the landmarks I’ve maybe got it.

All the answers are places (and all words).

You need to covert numbers to letters somehow

Edit: Oh, looking at the landmarks I’ve maybe got it.

Nope